Waynflete Building: Magdalen College plan branded 'bloated ugly mess'

Magdalen College has put forward plans to demolish the Waynflete Building in St Clement's and rebuild new facilities in its place, including 76 student bedrooms.

The Waynflete Building was built at the east end of Magdalen Bridge to provide extra student accommodation. 

The scheme will involve the demolition of the Waynflete Building and the existing extensions at the back of 9-13 St Clements.

According to the plans, there will be new buildings to accommodate shops at ground level fronting St Clements, replacement student accommodation and flats, and a multipurpose space.

The college has named the plans The Waynflete Project.

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The Waynflete Project site plan (Image: Oxford City Council) According to the college, the project will enable full accessibility to all areas of the site, overcoming several significant challenges within the existing Waynflete Building.

By Thursday, October 3, eight objections had been submitted and three supporting comments. 

York Place Residents’ Association, comprising of six residents, said: “The buildings proposed are not nearly up to a standard of sufficient quality to be built in this important historic setting of such renown. 

“The overbearing nature of the proposed buildings, of such height and mass and so near, also destroys so much of the residential amenity currently enjoyed by 1-7 York Place.

“The York Residents’ Association are disappointed that their views, in particular the harm to their residential amenity discussed as part of the public consultation, have not been acknowledged and the suggested compromises that could be achieved have not been explored. As a result, the proposed development would result in significant unacceptable impacts on their residential amenities.”

Duncan Fallowell, of Leamington Road Villas, London, added: “The proposal dumps a bloated ugly mess on a site of world heritage importance. As an old member of the college, I urge Magdalen - a very rich institution - to do much better.”

A supporting comment from Magdalen College School said: “At Magdalen College School we are convinced that the College's proposals have been informed by a thorough understanding of the site, its history and wider context and are a thoughtful and imaginative response to the needs of the college and the surrounding St Clement's area. 

“We are also glad to see that the multipurpose room offers the opportunity for community use of the building, creating the potential for the public - and the school - to engage with the River Cherwell and the landscape of the site. We are also satisfied with the retail frontage which is proposed.”